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St Matthew-in-the-City Congratulates Anglican Diocese on Support for GLBT Members Saturday, September 3 was a huge day in the ongoing struggle to end discrimination against GLBT members of the Anglican Church. The Revd Glynn Cardy rejoiced that, “Never before has an Auckland Synod so clearly, overwhelmingly, and emphatically endorsed the being, relationships and ministry of its gay and lesbian memberships!” For the first time an Auckland Diocesan bishop publicly said he would be willing to discern and ordain GLBT candidates for ordained ministry, including if they were in committed same-sex relationships. The Revd Cardy observed, “We thank him for his...

Delegates attending the biennial convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada have voted to allow gays and lesbians to become ministers. The delegates voted 205 to 114 in favour of a motion that states sexual orientation is not in itself a factor that disqualifies a candidate for the church's ministry. The motion rescinds ones from past conventions which disqualified candidates from ordination if they were self-declared, practising homosexuals. The delegates also voted 192 to 132 to allow ministers to conduct or bless same-sex marriages, according to their consciences and the laws of their provinces. Delegates sang "Lord Listen to...

Gay marriage supporters will announce a lawsuit seeking to legalize it in New Jersey on Wednesday, just days after New York signed gay marriage into law....The case for gay marriage in New Jersey was dealt two setbacks last year. In January, 2010, the Democrat-controlled state Senate rejected a bill that would have given same-sex couples the right to marry. Six months later, the state Supreme Court declined to hear a case for gay marriage, saying it needs to wind its way through the lower courts first.Supporters of gay marriage say they now have the votes to pass it in the...

A funeral service for a gay parishioner that was canceled by a Catholic church will be allowed to take place, according to the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego.. Friend Patrick Cannon told 10News, "The fact that they're now turning their backs on him is a… sad thing." "It’s like 2005 all over again for us Catholics… especially us gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics," said Nicole Murray-Ramirez, Sanfilippo's friend. Ramirez told 10News the same thing happened in 2005 when Bishop Robert Brom said John McCusker, a gay businessman, could not have his funeral at any of the diocese's churches....

Raised in a fundamentalist Baptist church, I was taught that being gay was morally wrong...I returned from a sabbatical and learned that the congregation's slate of nominees for elder and deacon included Sally. Sally is a longtime active Presbyterian and beloved by our members. Sally is also a lesbian in a long-term committed relationship. ....I was pretty sure the congregation's governing council responsible for approving nominees for ordination — would not be in agreement. .., the session recessed for a week to read the Bible more deeply and reexamine our church's laws and teachings. ..The vote was unanimous for ordination....